Pasta with Figs, Parmesan and Pecans and You Are the only Exception

Hi everyone. I have decided to sing my new favorite song at an upcoming breast cancer benefit by Goals For life http://www.goalsforlife.org , You are the only exception. I wrote about the song on facebook, stating that I would need to take voice lessons to be prepared, but I realized that I can train myself. You see, all I really need to do is practice, like preparing for a marathon. I started out by getting in touch with my passion for the song which was not hard-I was sobbing while listening to it on Glee. It is so beautiful and I simply needed to sing it.

Soon after, however, self doubt set in, “Who the heck am I to sing this song? It has a lot of tough notes, too many lyrics and I’m not 22.” Well, why shouldn’t I sing this song? I decided to commit to it, rehearse it, listen to it over and over again to my family’s chagrin and I learned that dang song in a couple of days.

How many of us watch others function in the world, doing what they like, maybe serving up a delicious meal at a dinner party, and we don’t even consider trying because we don’t have the confidence to even begin the process? It won’t turn out well anyway so why bother?

Well, I am here to try to get you to take a chance! Make that creme brulee by practicing every night for a week, make it for yourself 5 times until you feel it is worth serving to others if that’s what it takes. Yeah, you may not be thrilled with the results but at least you’ll know you tried. You will become a participant and not an observer in this life.

I hope I do not make a fool of myself but you be the judge! Come see me sing this great song on :

October 16th
176 Cooper Avenue, Montclair, NJ
$10.00 admission
7-10 PM (I’m going on with a special guest around 8:30PM)

If it is awful, please tell me I was fantastic so I will keep up the motivation to keep trying new songs and I will tell you that your Pasta with Figs, Parmesan and Pecans was DELICIOUS!!!!

P.S.If you want to hear this song, become a fan of the Take Back the Kitchen fan page on facebook and hear it for yourself!

makes 3-4 servings

Pasta with Figs, Parmesan and Pecans:

1 chopped onion, slowly sauteed over a low flame for about 1/2 hour until they are soft and translucent (caramelized)
4 fresh figs, quartered
1/2 avocado, cut into 1/4″ chunks
crushed red pepper
grated Parmesan Cheese
2 TBS pecans, chopped
truffle oil or good olive oil (can get at Trader Joes and many supermarkets)
1/2 lb boiled and drained multigrain Barilla pasta , or any pasta- I used bowtie

Separate hot pasta onto plates and toss with the pecans, onions,and top with the avocado, Parmesan and desired amount of drizzled oil and crushed red pepper. Enjoy!